Baker releases health care priorities

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker released a series of health care priorities that he says he would implement to improve care, increase cost transparency and reduce the cost of health care in Massachusetts.

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Posted Aug. 18, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Posted Aug. 18, 2014 at 12:01 AM

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker released a series of health care priorities that he says he would implement to improve care, increase cost transparency and reduce the cost of health care in Massachusetts. Baker’s proposals will allow patients to act as informed consumers, prioritize primary care – giving patients with multiple illnesses better treatment – and protect Massachusetts’ health system from federal burdens, according to his campaign.

“I am ready to put my tested experience bringing innovation to health care to work for the people of Massachusetts, to improve outcomes for patients and reduce costs for families and employers,” Baker said. “Massachusetts is a world leader in health care and these proposals will improve services, save money and protect our system from unnecessary federal overreach. Massachusetts is a great place filled with great people and it’s time our health care system worked for the people again.”

According to the campaign, Baker's plan features:

Transparency

To combat pricing discrepancy, a Baker administration would require health care providers to make their average prices for the most commonly provided services available to the public by January 2016.

This improvement in cost transparency would allow patients and self-insured employers to act as customers and make informed purchasing decisions.

· The Baker solution is supported by the findings of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Task Force on Price Transparency – a think tank composed of leaders from top healthcare organizations.

· Research from the University of Chicago in 2013 shows that price transparency reduces healthcare prices through increased competition for patients, and that the highest priced providers correspond to the largest price decrease.

Improving the coordination of care

A Baker administration would permanently increase pay for PCPs by seeking a waiver from Medicare to raise the rates paid to PCPs. Research shows that permanent investment in funding primary care would lead to an increased number of PCPs, would allow PCPs to invest in building comprehensive care teams, and would ultimately reduce healthcare costs long-term.

Increased funding support for primary care and preventive services will improve the effectiveness of the health care system, while improving the health status of those individuals dealing with multiple illnesses and reducing their total cost to the health care system overall.

A Baker administration would engage the care delivery and patient advocacy communities in a dialogue about the best way to serve those patients who make up 5 percent of the population, but spend 50 percent of the dollars spent each year on health care.

A Baker administration would increase investment into “dual eligible” CMS (Medicare and Medicaid) demonstrations to improve care for the most vulnerable and highest-cost patients. This investment would be based on performance metrics of the programs to promote only the most effective programs.

Page 2 of 2 - Massachusetts solutions for market-based reform

A Baker administration will fight for the interests of Massachusetts residents over those of federal officials and will pursue waivers from the federal government to implement federal plans in a balanced way that improves the lives and healthcare of Massachusetts residents.

A Baker administration would oversee the continued successful reinstatement of the Connector website to ensure it was functioning properly and helping Massachusetts residents access affordable health care in a user-friendly, cost-effective way.

A Baker administration would decrease the complexity in state regulations on health care providers. The administration would work with key stakeholders in the health care community to develop policies that meet the needs and improve the care of the residents in the Commonwealth.